Daily Devotional Meditations and a Biblical Perspective on Current Events

The Tragedy When Children Are Left to Themselves

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Daily reading assignment: Psalms 36-38

The rising tide of lawlessness, violence, moral depravity and hatred of law and order are indicative of a morally corrupt generation and a dying nation. Fatherless homes, perpetual generations of welfare mothers and grandmothers, and children left to their own wicked devices (Proverbs 29:15) has become a scourge for 21st century America. It is not my purpose or intent to offend my readers in today’s devotional; however, it is time for believers and preachers to employ biblical language that defines a fatherless generation of lawless youth who are symptomatic of a moral decay afflicting our schools, communities, towns and cities.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews employed the term “bastard” to describe those who profess to be believers, but whose lives gave no evidence of the chastening hand of God because they continued in a pattern of sin contrary to the will and Word of God. Drawing a parallel with a loving earthly father who chastens his children to bend their will to a path of obedience and righteous living (Hebrews 12:7), the author of Hebrews states: “if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons” (Hebrews 12:8). In other words, in the same manner a loving earthly father bears the responsibility of teaching and chastening his children when they sin, a professing believer who continues in sin without chastening is a “bastard” and not a spiritual son of God.

Consider David’s description of the wicked in his day and how it mirrors the undisciplined youth of our day who have been raised in homes without loving instruction and corrective discipline.

The sins of the wicked are the fruit of their sinful nature and proof they have no fear of God. They are numbered among those fools who say, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1); their ways are “corrupt” and their works an abomination before God.

Psalm 36:2 – “For he [the wicked]flattereth[favors]himself in his own eyes[knowledge; opinion; sight; note Romans 3:18], until his iniquity [sin; punishment; guilt] be found [i.e. found out] to be hateful [detest; despised].

If ever there has been a generation that has an inflated sense of their self-worth it is this generation. They have accomplished little, but demand everything. They are full of themselves and social media has afforded them a platform to boast over sins an earlier generation would have blushed. Rather than discipline, the parents of this generation have fawned over their youth and failed to address the flaws in their character and remind them every action and attitude carries consequences.

Psalm 36:3 – “The words [matter; cause; advice] of his mouth are iniquity [sin; wickedness] and deceit [fraud; treachery]: he hath left off[ceased; failed; lacked] to be wise[understand; prosper; act wisely], and to do good[well; be pleasing].”

The filthy, abusive, and deceitful words of this generation toward authority are reprehensible. The wicked place no value on civility nor speak with discretion. They have no interest in godly wisdom or righteousness.

Psalm 36:4 – “He [wicked]deviseth[imagine; fabricate; plot]mischief[sin; wickedness] upon his bed; he setteth [stand; presents; places] himself in a way [road; path; course of life]that is not good [best; pleasant; right]; he abhorreth[spurns; cast away; despises]not evil[sin; wickedness].”

Finally, the wicked are slaves to sin. While wickedness consumes their thoughts, their hearts plot all manner of evil. Contrary to this generation’s embrace of “victimology” that places responsibility for the consequences of sin on everyone but themselves, the wicked purpose to do evil because it is who they are.

We are observing in 21st century America, a generation of parents that have failed to train the moral conscience of their children. This generation of moral degenerates attacks teachers in public schools while their peers cheer them. They mock law enforcement because they have never known the consequences of lawlessness. They wreak havoc in homes and riot in the streets. We are reaping the consequences of a failed social experiment, birthed in the bosom of atheism and borne by a liberal, socialist ideology that is anti-American, anti-Christian, and anti-family.

My friend, we need a spiritual revival in America. We need parents who have the backbone and fortitude to love their children enough to realize, left to themselves, they will become spiritual “bastards” in word, spirit and action (Hebrews 12:8).

After all, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15).